NewsDesk | VoltaOnline
Barring any last minute intervention, medical drone delivery company, Zipline Ghana, will suspend operations at three of its distribution centres from Tuesday, November 25, 2025, over unsettled payments by the Ministry of Health.
An intercepted letter to healthcare stakeholders, sighted by Volta Online, disclosed that the suspension will affect the Anum Centre serving facilities in parts of Volta and Eastern Regions, the Sehwi-Wiawso Centre in Western North, and the Kete-Krachi Centre in Oti.
The correspondence, signed by Zipline’s Country Director, Daniel Kwaku Merki, explained that “several years of outstanding payments and unclear settlement timelines” have made it impossible to sustain full operations across all six centres nationwide. Copies of the letter were also circulated to deputy directors, pharmacists, clinical care heads, and district health directors in the affected areas.
Since 2019, Zipline has delivered over 800,000 shipments, including more than 8 million medical products, 17 million vaccine doses, and 23,000 units of blood. Independent studies cited in the letter highlight a 56.4% reduction in maternal mortality, a 60% reduction in medical stockouts, and significant increases in immunization coverage in Zipline-served facilities.
“This suspension is a necessary step to ensure the long-term sustainability of our operations and is not a retreat from our mission,” the letter emphasized, while assuring continued engagement with the Ministry of Health for a possible resolution.
Zipline pledged to work with medical stores and cold rooms to return stock and notify affected health facilities to minimize disruptions.
The looming suspension has sparked concern among healthcare stakeholders, as Zipline’s drone service has been credited with saving thousands of lives through timely supply of blood, vaccines, and essential medicines in hard-to-reach communities.
